Mar. 13, 2025 7:30p
(WGTD)---Preliminary budget-cutting has reduced Kenosha Unified's projected deficit for next year from $19 million to $4.4 million.
The school board got a briefing Thursday night in the wake of the failure of a referendum last month that would've negated the need for painful cuts.
Some of the reductions announced Thursday evening came as no surprise. The district is scrapping plans for now of building controlled entrances at the seven schools that don't have them. Adjusting teacher schedules to allow for more prep time has been shelved. Technology improvements, some major maintenance projects and staff salary increases are on hold. Filling administrative, supervisory and technical staff vacancies are being delayed.
Items still under review include increasing class sizes, reducing fine arts and athletic offerings and restructuring the academy concept at Indian Trail High School.
KUSD Superintendent Jeff Weiss said there are still a lot of unknowns. "It's important to note this is very early in the budget cycle. There are still a lot of moving parts that we don't know yet," he said.
Just how the state biennial budget will flesh out is one of the bigger unknowns. Some of the items on the chopping block could be brought back for reconsideration if the state aid picture improves, Weiss indicated.
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